Page 3 - Staff FocusSeptember 2020

‘I’ve always enjoyed my work and met some great people’

continued from previous page Airdrie Sheriff Court and then moved to Lanark Sheriff
while working and being a busy dad at home. Steve leaves Court as Sheriff Clerk, also covering the Sheriff Clerk role
a great legacy of achievement and example behind him at Dumfries for a 3 month period during her time there
from his years in the service. As one former colleague put until September 2004, In 2006, she returned to Hamilton
it in a farewell message: “You are one of the most Sheriff Court before becoming Sheriff Clerk at Stirling
hard-working, inspirational leaders I have ever worked (SEO) in 2006 until March 2011. She then was appointed
with in SCTS, you are a diamond and will never be Sheriff Clerk for another spell at Hamilton to December
forgotten. You made so many of us ‘believe’ we could 2018 I before taking over as Interim SBM for SSDG.
change the world and I for one am still trying. I remember Maureen has great memories of her years working around
a wee quote you once said ‘a good leader makes the the service. “I have always enjoyed my work and have
people think they have done it by themselves’…..what a been lucky to work with – and learned from – some great
leader you truly are.” people. In the early days the social life attached to work
Another colleague echoed those remarks saying: “Thanks was important to me. Hamilton holds lots of great
for the support, mentoring and encouragement you memories and my time as HEO cashier in Glasgow holds
provided to me over the years. Empathy and understand- special memories for me due to the team I worked with –
ing are the hallmarks of a successful leader. You certainly we achieved so much.”
displayed these…” There was plenty of incident too, especially the rude
Now settling into the different demands of retirement awakening one morning when Maureen was Sheriff Clerk
Steve sent a message to his colleagues saying: “I’d simply at Lanark. She had only been there four months when she
like to send everyone my sincere best wishes during what turned on the radio one morning after waking up and got
I hope are long and happy careers in SCTS.” a shock. “I heard a news item advising that Hope Street in
Maureen McLean: Moved to courts from National Savings Bank Lanark was closed due to a fire at the Sheriff Court! I
was a vacancy in the court service and asked if I would be could not believe my ears. I quickly called the Police, who
interested. So I asked him questions about the courts, and confirmed the position. I then called the depute and the
Fellow Sheriffdom Business Manager, for SSDG, after my interview did some more research on what was Court Officer, who said ‘I was just about to call you – I got
Maureen McLean can look back on a career of 43 involved. I thought it seemed really interesting and when I a call at about 4:30 this morning, there was nothing any of
years that started in October 1977 with the National was offered a post at Glasgow Sheriff Court, I was us could do, so I didn't bother waking you.’ He was a
Savings Back in Cowglen, Glasgow, working in the HR delighted to accept.” former police officer and seemed to take it in his stride.”
department as a clerical assistant before she moved on to That was the start of a distinguished career that took Maureen immediately made her way to the office and
the Scottish Courts on promotion as a clerical officer in Maureen from AO at Glasgow to a number of different found that a fire bomb had been thrown, smashing
July 1978. roles and courts. After maternity leave she moved in 1984 through a window in the Sheriff Clerk’s office and landing
“I did not know anything about the courts,” said Maureen. to Hamilton Sheriff Court as an EO until February 1991 on her desk. “What a mess, it was, we were clearing up
“It was only during my interview for a post as clerical when she returned to Glasgow Sheriff Court having been for weeks. Fortunately we had locked all the files in the
officer, that the chair of the board advised me that there promoted to HEO. In 1994 she worked as an HEO at